At the end of September, the MFL department took 34 Key Stage 4 students on a cultural visit to Barcelona.

At the end of September, the MFL department took 34 Key Stage 4 students on a cultural visit to Barcelona. The Academy has forged links with a school in Barcelona via the ‘Global Gateway’ and this trip provided an excellent opportunity to improve awareness of other cultures and languages, to enhance GCSE Spanish coursework and to provide opportunities for those students studying GCSE Art.

School Website - Escola PIA Nostra Senyora

Barcelona proved a particularly interesting place to learn about languages as it is in a bilingual region in Spain, with most people speaking two languages (Spanish and Catalan) fluently, and many speaking a third or fourth as well!  Whilst visiting the city, students noticed that many street signs, landmarks, menus, and public facilities were marked in both languages.

After a long but comfortable coach journey, the group arrived and visited the areas surrounding the hotel which was about 15 minutes outside of Barcelona.  On Wednesday, they went to Tarragona for the day.  This is a Roman town with an ampitheatre, an old Roman circus castle, walls and other ruins of Roman villas. Whilst there, locals were celebrating a regional Saint’s Day and there were many celebrations such as music in the streets and their regional Castells, which are human towers! Even the Spanish TV was there to report on the events.   Later in the day, there was an opportunity to visit the modern part of the town as well.  This excursion was a highlight of the trip and students enjoyed the great weather and the warm welcome they experienced.

On Thursday the focus shifted to exploring the centre of Barcelona, heading first for the iconic and busy ‘Las Ramblas’ which is the central street which cuts through the heart of the city centre and is a vibrant and lively promenade. After this was a visit to the port and in the afternoon to the link school, Escola Pia Nostra Senyora which is also in the centre of the city.  Macmillan staff and students were made very welcome at their host school and had the chance to develop their Spanish and create new links with Barcelona students, which many have taken advantage of already.  The evening included a night bus excursion and a fireworks display. 

On their final day, students experienced all the fun and thrills that the Universal Studio’s theme park ‘Port Aventura’, had to offer.   This park, near Salou, is reportedly Europe’s biggest theme park.

Mrs Storey, Head of MFL said that, “The trip overall was a huge success and really provided the chance for students to practise their language in a range of contexts as well as learn about Cataluña and their regional language.”  The MFL department are hopeful of a follow-up visit at some point in the future to build on the links that have already been forged in Barcelona.